Re: What Beer Are You Drinking? - Spring 2012

With Thad recently in Bardstown, Full Sail ESB and Sam Adams Dark Depths Baltic IPA, both about 7.5% ABV.

Both these are examples of modern craft brewing at its best. The beers were very tasty and well-made with no faults in the bottle like damp paper oxidation or acetic acid. They also IMO despite some of the terms in the second one, exemplify an English style of brewing albeit made by reputed American brewers.

I've been trying craft beers since they emerged around 1980 and they have never been better.

Re: What Beer Are You Drinking? - Spring 2012

Originally Posted by Gillman

With Thad recently in Bardstown, Full Sail ESB and Sam Adams Dark Depths Baltic IPA, both about 7.5% ABV.

Both these are examples of modern craft brewing at its best. The beers were very tasty and well-made with no faults in the bottle like damp paper oxidation or acetic acid. They also IMO despite some of the terms in the second one, exemplify an English style of brewing albeit made by reputed American brewers.

I've been trying craft beers since they emerged around 1980 and they have never been better.

Gary

Will be on the lookout for the SA Dark Depths Baltic IPA. That sounds really good. Have any of you picked up the Sam Adams Hop-ology IPA sampler twelve pack? It's got a few beers that are exclusive to the box and all are quite interesting and varied.

Re: What Beer Are You Drinking? - Spring 2012

Originally Posted by Gillman

With Thad recently in Bardstown, Full Sail ESB and Sam Adams Dark Depths Baltic IPA, both about 7.5% ABV.

Both these are examples of modern craft brewing at its best. The beers were very tasty and well-made with no faults in the bottle like damp paper oxidation or acetic acid. They also IMO despite some of the terms in the second one, exemplify an English style of brewing albeit made by reputed American brewers.

I've been trying craft beers since they emerged around 1980 and they have never been better.

Gary

Originally Posted by unclebunk

Will be on the lookout for the SA Dark Depths Baltic IPA. That sounds really good. Have any of you picked up the Sam Adams Hop-ology IPA sampler twelve pack? It's got a few beers that are exclusive to the box and all are quite interesting and varied.

Both of these beers were great but I found myself going back for another sip (or two or three ) of the Sammy Baltic later at the picnic. The pioneer, dinosaur and now tied with Yuenglings on sales as the largest American owned beermaker...still got game. Hank did you notice that the Dark Depths is part of the twelve pack sampler you referenced but Gary was able to get it (at Party Source?) as a stand alone. The twelve pack certainly seems worth it too with the exception of the Whitewater IPA, for my tastes.

Re: What Beer Are You Drinking? - Spring 2012

Actually got that beer at Cork & Bottle in Covington, a stand-alone. Really top-grade product! Sam Adams is continually coming out with new beers and it's hard to keep up, I haven't tried the others mentioned as yet. I like the Stock Ale and Summer Ale as reliable go-tos. The regular lager though has a particular flavour I don't really like, a bit harsh and acetone-like, I think it's from the hop blend used.

I much prefer the Light, Sam Adams Light, for the lager side of things, it seems to have a different formulation than the regular lager, it's not just the same thing diluted down. Same thing with Michelob Ultra Light, it's the best in the Michelob range by my lights and closest in hop flavour to the 1970's Michelob. I think they ramp up the hop bill because it's light to begin with - Amstel Light has a similar strategy. This may sound contradictory but it isn't, the hop flavor makes up partly for the very light body of the beer. I almost never drink mass-produced or industrial beer but I like those two. First tasted the Michelob Ultra Light at Randy's in Houston, Val gave me one!